Linn B Halton's The Quientessential Gemini--CBLS-VBT

Title: The Quintessential Gemini

Author: Linn B. Halton

Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing Title: The Quintessential

Length: 305 pages

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Available at:

Sapphire Star Publishing

Blurb:

For twenty-one years, the focus of Katherine Dale’s life has been her work. Love interests and hobbies came and went, but what has always been there for her—her only constant other than her cat delightfully named No. 4—was her nine to five habit. Until she’s replaced.

With her confidence dented, Katherine is angry at life and at herself.

She’s ignored hints of “changes to come” in her horoscope forecasts, written by the wonderful and renowned astrologer, Mark Ainsley-Thomas. 

Mark is now an “A” list celebrity in the UK and his new Agent is determined to raise his profile in America, so he has to take on the new, but talented, astrologer James Kingman to help him run his web-site.

Katherine lives her life according to her daily horoscope. When Katherine finds James has been writing her daily horoscopes rather than Mark, Katherine’s life explodes in confusion and, unexpectedly, love as the three lives become inextricably tangled.  Insecurity, self-doubt, guilt, stress, and frustration, coupled with village gossips and merciless reporters wanting eye-catching headlines leave Katherine feeling vulnerable and in need of guidance. 

Now Katherine has to learn that the stars might be telling her that love is going to feature in her life, but when Katherine finds herself implicated in the headlines ‘Mystic Love Triangle Surprise’ she’s just as surprised as everyone else! None of the men in her life are love interests – so what exactly does fate have in store?

 

Excerpt:

My life is falling apart. I knew it, Mark isn’t writing the forecasts and a guy named James has now admitted this to me. I don’t have a problem with that at all, but what I need at this particular moment in time is Mark’s insightful guidance. He seems to be able to tap into the very essence of my life and give simple, yet incredibly relevant, clues. James, on the other hand, is probably catering for the masses; hence, I’m finding I can’t relate to anything he says. It took me all day yesterday emailing James, whom I assumed was Mark, to get to the bottom of the problem. Today is Wednesday and the talk is on Friday evening. Everyone in town is buzzing about it and this could be major humiliation. What should I do?

 

I finally emailed James, asking very politely for Mark’s personal contact details. He came back with a standard, “Mark unfortunately isn’t available to…” I didn’t panic, just took a deep breath and turned to the internet. I found an interesting article about Mark and learned that he gives personal readings. Yes. Thankfully, the email address is different to the one on the Website. I dashed off a few words, asking whether he was available, and what I needed to do. That was four-thirty yesterday and I haven’t had a response yet.

I was up at six this morning and have been frantically checking my emails virtually every ten minutes. It’s now eleven thirty and the strain is beginning to tell. I can’t write, can’t eat, and can’t think straight. If Friday night is going to be a flop, then I need advance warning so that I can cancel. I’m having problems thinking of an excuse that doesn’t sound lame. If I say I’m unwell, it probably means leaving it to the last minute and then I’ll be scrutinized and will have to hide for a week. If I say something like “I’m too busy” or even tell the truth, that I’m really just a novice myself, the locals will probably think I’m not taking them seriously. In my defense, I never said to Tom I was a writer, I just said I was writing a novel. The problem is that Tom seems to be basking in some sort of local glory for being in the know and, I hear, regularly having coffee with our famous local writer. This I found out when I was in the library the other day and overheard two women talking. Everything is getting out of hand and I don’t know what to do next.

No. 4 flounces into the room with a loud meow, walks around the kitchen table twice, and then just as quickly disappears. Even he can sense the tense atmosphere that hovers like a rain cloud in the room. Suddenly I spot a flashing icon on my screen and I dash over to the table and sit down. It’s from Mark, well his representative, the person who books his personal appointments.

From: Kate on behalf of Mark Ainsley-Thomas

To: Ms K Dale

Dear Katherine

Unfortunately, Mark is touring this week, attending a number of book signings around the country. He is sorry that he is unlikely to be able to commit to a personal sitting for at least three months due to his unusually busy schedule.

I am able to offer you an individual, full chart reading service, which Mark oversees personally, and I can arrange this upon receipt of the detailed information listed on the attachment. This service is available at a cost of £19.95.

Thank you for contacting Mark and please do not hesitate to let me know if you would like the full chart reading service.

Yours sincerely

Kate

Personal Assistant to Mark Ainsley-Thomas

I suddenly feel like I have a lifeline.

 

About the Author:

Linn B Halton lives in the UK, in the small Gloucestershire village of Arlingham, on the banks of the River 

Severn with her adorable husband and cat with attitude – Mr Tiggs! She writes romantic fiction with a psychic or

astrological theme and many of the paranormal events that feature in her books are real life experiences.

Linn is also a featured new Author on http://loveahappyending.com/ and Editor of the feature ‘Author & Associate Catch-Ups’ including ‘Reader/Author Team Reports’ on the website’s magazine-style blog.

SSP Author Page: http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/linnbhalton

Linn’s Author Page: http://loveahappyending.com/linn-b-halton/

Twitter Account @LinnBHalton: http://bit.ly/ksXMDS

Facebook Author Linn B Halton: http://on.fb.me/mnvJJs

 

My Review:

I loved the storyline and the well developed characters that Linn B Halton portrayed in the Quintessential Gemini.  Katherine was so funny throughout.  She was just your average woman with feelings running from anger to caring deeply for her friends and so desirous of love, which she didn't even realize  until she had fallen.  There is a bit of astrological horoscope entwined within the story as Katherine had followed her horoscope through the readings of Mark Ainsley-Thomas for over twenty years.  She had followed him for so long, she could recognize a change in the writings, although she had no idea why her horoscope was not doing it for her, like it had in the past. She is giving herself three years to take a shot at becoming a successful author before trying to re-enter the work force.   Katherine's story is pretty close to her own, which includes gossip, inuendo, new love and friendships and stepping outside of her comfort zone.   I had some trouble getting into the book at the first.  It is written from the POV of 4 characters, Katherine, James, Margaret and Mark Ainsley Thomas.   I loved him, as he was wise and understanding and loved people.   Margaret was a minister's wife and also the small community's Saint Mama...She had her hands in everything and didn't miss a thing when it came to her community.   James was a man who hadn't received a lot of support and encouragement  in his life, but he was trying to make his life acceptable to himself, if no one else, and his relationship with his neighbor, Jake, was endearing.    But the transition from one POV to the next was a wee bit confusing until you read far enough into the chapter to figure out who was speaking.   Once I got used to that aspect of the writing, I was in love with the story completely.   This is a sweet romance story and one I could relate to wholeheartedly.  The characters all had their flaws and redemptive qualities and each character grew within the confines of the pages.   I just wanted to cheer them on!   Oh and I must mention No. 4 as he seemed to be everyone's sounding board.....Yes, he was awesome in the wisdom he dispensed!!  What a guy!

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.